Sunderland Eyes Historic Double Over Chelsea in Premier League. Sunderland and Chelsea are heading into a decisive match of the season. Only one point separates the teams. With a victory, Sunderland could achieve a double over the Londoners for the first time in 25 years.
On Sunday, May 24, a key Premier League match will take place at the Stadium of Light: Sunderland hosts Chelsea. The match kicks off at 16:00 UK time and could become a historic one for the hosts — for the first time since the 2000/01 season, Sunderland is aiming for a double victory over the London club. In October, the team already defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with a score of 2-1, and now hopes to cement its success at home.
Ahead of the match, just one point separates the teams: Chelsea is in eighth place with 52 points, Sunderland is tenth with 51. Both clubs still have a chance to climb higher in the final standings, and the result of this match will directly impact the distribution of places in the top part of the table.
Both teams' line-ups promise a tense battle. Sunderland, managed by Régis Le Bris, will play in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Roefs in goal, Geertruida, Mukiele, O'Nien, and Reinildo Mandava in defense, with captain Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fée, and Angulo in midfield, and Brobbey up front. Chelsea, led by Calum McFarlane, has chosen a 3-4-2-1 scheme: Sánchez in goal, Fofana, Colwill, and Hato in defense, Gusto, captain Fernández, Caicedo, and Cucurella in midfield, with an attacking trio of Palmer, Pedro Neto, and João Pedro.
The refereeing team is headed by Chris Kavanagh, with Matt Donohue responsible for VAR. An important detail is the head-to-head stats: Chelsea has lost away to Sunderland just once in the last 13 Premier League matches, which adds intrigue to the upcoming game.
This season features notable individual achievements: at Chelsea, Enzo Fernández is having his best year in England, scoring 10 goals and registering 14 goal contributions. Sunderland's top assist provider is Granit Xhaka, with 6 assists. Both clubs are coming into the match following wins: Sunderland beat Everton 3-1, while Chelsea came out on top against Tottenham Hotspur 2-1. By the way, about the London derby — Chelsea recently confirmed their form against Tottenham; more details can be found in the article on the decisive meeting at Stamford Bridge.
Sunderland's statistics deserve special mention: the team managed to earn 22 points after trailing during matches — the best result among league newcomers in recent years. This fighting spirit allows Sunderland to count on unexpected outcomes even in the most challenging situations.
For reference: the Stadium of Light holds over 48,000 spectators and is considered one of the most recognizable arenas in northeast England. In recent years, Sunderland has rarely competed for top positions, but this season could be a turning point. Chelsea, despite changes in their squad and coaching staff, remains one of the Premier League’s most stable clubs. The outcome of the match will determine not only the distribution of places, but could also influence the teams’ plans for next season.
